Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel said, “Israel had no days as festive as the 15th of Av, when the maidens of Jerusalem would go out dressed in white… and dance in the vineyards.”

There have always been jokers among us. Their destiny is not like everyone else’s…

Sometimes love is best expressed by what we don’t do.

I was recently invited to give a talk to rabbinical students. The first thing I did to prepare was ask my kids, “When have you seen a rabbi being excellent?”

On the 15th of the Hebrew month of Av, the maidens of Jerusalem would go out dressed in white garments and dance in the vineyards.

Rabbi Akiva would say: Beloved is humanity, for we were created in the image [of God]

The Tzaddik of Sanz once stood at his window and called to a passerby, “What would you do if you found a purse with a large sum of money, and the name of its owner was in it?” 

The Jewish holiday season, from Rosh Hashanah through Sukkot, is actually a sophisticated technology for personal repair bequeathed to us by G-d via Moses 3,300 years ago, with accompanying instructions for upgrades over the millennia.

What is holiness? What does it mean to be holy? I have wrestled with this question ever since I found my way back to Judaism 16 years ago.

As Purim approaches, we encounter a Talmudic conundrum:
Rava said: One must become so intoxicated on Purim that he cannot distinguish between “Cursed is Haman” and “Blessed is Mordechai.” Rabbah and Rav Zeira celebrated the Purim feast together. They became intoxicated. Rabbah arose and slaughtered Rav Zeira.